Visually coordinated absorbent product

ABSTRACT

A visually coordinated absorbent product includes a article component having a body side liner, a garment side outer cover and an absorbent core disposed between the body side liner and the garment side outer cover. The article component has at least a first and second visual characteristic, wherein the first visual characteristic is different than the second visual characteristic. The article component is disposed in a packaging component having at least the first and second visual characteristics. In one embodiment, the packaging component is an individual pouch sized and configured to hold a single, individual article component. In various embodiments, the visual characteristics can include color, embossment, printing, and/or side sealing.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/749,871, filed Dec. 30, 2003, and claims the benefit of thefiling date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/749,871.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to absorbent products, and inparticular, to visually coordinated absorbent products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable absorbent articles have become an integral part of the livesof many people. These disposable absorbent articles contribute to lifeexperiences including shopping experiences and experiences in restrooms,especially public restrooms. Often these articles contribute to theseexperiences in a negative manner. This negative contribution oftenbegins with the article appearance. Basing an opinion of an article onfirst impression may be unfair, but it is often the norm. From the timea consumer see the article first advertised to the time that theconsumer disposes of the article, the consumer is generating an opinionabout the article that can be very different from that which is desiredby the manufacture, solely based on the appearance of the disposableabsorbent article.

Typically, the appearance of many disposable absorbent articles includesa mixture of uncoordinated solid colors that typically give thedisposable absorbent article a sanitary appearance, which is easilyrecognized as an absorbent article. For example, a typical appearancefor an incontinent article consists of combination of a solid white andmay be some other solid non-white color such as blue, pink, green, oryellow. When a non-white color is used, it often contrasts with thewhite color. The contrast is provided to draw attention to someattribute of the articles function, such as absorbency. The appearanceof a solid blue or green within the pad has been used by companies todenote added absorbency. Solid pink and yellow have been used but have anegative connotation reminding the user that they have a problem due tothe association of these colors with bodily fluids like menses andurine. The use of these combinations of solid colors generally conveys amessage to a consumer of these absorbent articles that the consumer hasa problem. Often, this impression is reinforced by advertising and use.One of the last things that a consumer wants to have is the appearanceof the article that advertises to others or reminds them that they havea problem. Accordingly, a need remains for a disposable absorbentarticle that gives an impression of being more than an absorbent but itis an essential component of a consumers clothing ensemble.

Typically, absorbent articles such as pads or pantiliners include one ormore elements, such as an outer cover, an absorbent core, a body sideliner and peel strip. Such articles are often individually wrapped in apouch or similar wrapper, or are wrapped as a group of articles. Aplurality of articles, whether or not individually wrapped, is alsotypically sold in bulk packaging, such as a bag or box. Often, thevarious elements of the article, the individual pouch and the bulkpackaging are individually designed without any effort to coordinatetheir appearance or aesthetics of the various components. For example, atypical incontinence pad may be solid white or white with pink or bluestripes on the body side surface and may have a peel strip with a printthat is pink or blue. The pad is wrapped in a solid white or solid pinkpouch, with the plurality of pouches packaged in a bag perhaps havingsome blue or pink coloration. In this way, while some colors (e.g.,white and pink or blue) are used on each of the components, they do notcoordinated between the article and individual wrapper and/or bulkpackaging. As such, the consumer is not made confident that the overallproduct, including the pad, the pouch and/or the packaging, was designedtogether. Accordingly, a need remains for an absorbent article that isvisually coordinated with itself or with its packaging so as to invokean impression from the user that the individual components, i.e., theabsorbent article and the packaging component, of the absorbent productwere designed together and are of a high quality.

In addition, a consumer may not want others to know that they arecarrying an absorbent article. A consumer may want the article to bemasked or hidden or otherwise disguised. Current pouches achieve thismasking by using a relatively heavy, uniform-micro embossed,uniform-colored film material which can prevent an observer fromdiscerning what is contained in the pouch. Such materials can berelatively expensive. Lighter weight materials, however, are typicallymore see-through, thereby allowing observers to discern the contents ofthe pouch. Current pouches also appear rectangular in shape containinglinear lines. The combination of the material and construction can givethe wrapped article an appearance easily recognized by others as anabsorbent article. Accordingly, a need remains in the art for anabsorbent article that is visually coordinated with itself and/or withits packaging, and which is not discernable through relativelysee-through packaging and rectangular construction of the packaging.

In the case of feminine personal care articles, such as sanitary napkinsand the like, there is a need for absorbent article which can provide apossible emotional benefit to the user. The menstrual period is often aninconvenience at best or disabling at worst. Many women experience bothphysical and emotional discomfort during the menstrual period. Thisdiscomfort can be exasperated by others discovering that a user of thefeminine care articles is in fact using feminine personal care articlesat a given time. This is especially a problem in for young women andparticularly teenagers. Generally, sanitary napkins available on themarket meet the physical needs, e.g. absorbency, but provide little, ifany, emotional support for the user during a time of emotional need.Typical sanitary napkins available on the market have a white color or asimple combination of colors to provide a sanitary appearance. As aresult, the user of the sanitary napkins is provided with essentially noemotional benefit by the appearance of the sanitary napkin; In a similarmanner, incontinence may also cause a downturn in the emotional state ofthe incontinent person. Therefore, there is a need in the art to providea possible emotional benefit to the users of feminine personal carearticles and incontinence articles.

In addition, many women prefer that items in their lives blend in or fitinto their lives. As a result, many items in a woman's life arecoordinated and/or are matched. Many items in a woman's life have afeminine flair. One item used in lives of women which is not matched orcoordinated is personal care articles, including sanitary napkins andincontinence pads. Personal care articles are generally white in coloror have a simple combination of colors, such as white and one additionalcolor. Available personal care products are generally not coordinatedand often appear to be masculine. Therefore, there is a need forcoordinated personal care products or personal care products having anoverall feminine flair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, in one aspect of the present invention, the presentinvention provides a visually coordinated absorbent product comprisingat least a first element and a second element. Each element has at leasta first and second visual characteristic, wherein the first and secondvisual characteristics are different from each other and the first andsecond visual characteristic of the first element are matched to thefirst and second visual characteristics of the second element. In anaddition aspect, there are at least three visual characteristics thatare matched.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided is a visuallycoordinated absorbent product having at least a first element, a secondelement and a third element, wherein the first element has at least afirst and second visual characteristic, the second element has at leastone visual characteristic which is matched to the first visualcharacteristic of the first element and the third element has at leastone visual characteristic which is matched to the second visualcharacteristic of the first element. The first element causes the secondand third elements to be matched.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided is a visuallycoordinated absorbent product. The absorbent product has an absorbentarticle component with a garment side outer cover and an absorbent coreadjacent the garment side outer cover. Also the article component has atleast a first and second visual characteristic, wherein said firstvisual characteristic is different than said second visualcharacteristic. In addition to the absorbent article, the product alsohas a packaging component having at least a first and second visualcharacteristic. The first and second visual characteristics of theabsorbent article are coordinated to the first and second visualcharacteristics of the packaging component and wherein said articlecomponent is disposed in said packaging component. There may be morethat two visual characteristics that are coordinated. For example, theremay be three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine or more visualcharacteristic that are coordinated. In various embodiments, the visualcharacteristics can be generated by color, embossment, printing, and/orside sealing.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided is a visuallycoordinated absorbent product having an absorbent article, a firstpackaging component and a second packaging component. The absorbentarticle component has a body side liner, a garment side outer cover andan absorbent core disposed between said body side liner and said garmentside outer cover. The first packaging component has at least first andsecond visual characteristics, and the absorbent article component isdisposed in said first packaging component. The second packagingcomponent having said at least said first and second visualcharacteristics, and the first packaging component is disposed in saidsecond packaging component.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a visually coordinatedabsorbent product having an absorbent article component and a packagingcomponent. The absorbent article component has a garment side outercover and an absorbent core adjacent the garment side outer cover. Inaddition, the article component has at least a first and second visualcharacteristic, wherein said first visual characteristic is differentthan said second visual characteristic. The packaging component istransparent or translucent and the a first and second visualcharacteristics of the absorbent article are visible thru the packagingcomponents such that the packaging component appears to have the a firstand second visual characteristics on the surface thereof.

In a further aspect of the present invention, provided is a visuallycoordinated absorbent product having at least a first element and asecond element, each element has at least a first and second visualcharacteristic. The first and second visual characteristics aredifferent from each other and the first and second visual characteristicof the first element are coordinated to the first and second visualcharacteristics of the second element.

The various aspects provide significant advantages over other absorbentproducts. For example and without limitation, the user is provided withan impression that the product is of high quality, and that the productand wrapper were designed together, rather than piece meal. In addition,the visually coordinated product and wrapper may provide the user withan emotional benefit, allowing them to feel more feminine with respectto female absorbent products, and to feel better about the product theyare using. The visual characteristics can also identify the product forthe user, for example provide source identification. In other aspects,the coordination of the elements of the absorbent products, or thecoordination of the absorbent product with the wrapper, allows themanufacturer to use a relatively see-through packaging material withoutsacrificing the ability to hide the contents of the packaging. Forexample, a relatively light basis weight non-woven material can be usedfor the packaging, thereby reducing the overall costs of the product.

The present invention provides for personal care products which mayprovide an emotional benefit to the user in a time of need. In thisaspect, the absorbent products and the wrappers for the absorbentproducts are match or coordinated and may be provided with a feminineflair, through the use of colors, patterns, aromas and tactileproperties, thereby providing a more positive product use experience.

This invention is an absorbent product this is visually coordinated to aconsumer. A product will be visually coordinated when one or moreelements of the product have two or more visual characteristics that areeither matched or are caused to match. These visual characteristics maybe visible patterns of color on the elements of the product. The colorof these patterns can be described by the value of the hue, saturation,and luminosity. This color will be determined from the visible spectraland angular distribution of light coming from an object. The patternscan be described by their location, extent, shape, and orientation.These patterns may have smaller patterns contained within them. Thepattern may be the result of the non-uniform chemical composition of theelement like the printing of a pattern of a dye or from the texture ofthe element like the embossing of a pattern. The pattern will bedetermined from the visible spatial, spectral and angular distributionof light coming from an object.

Although any element could be involved the coordination, preferable oneelement would be part of each separable element of the product like oneelement of the absorbent article and another element would be part ofthe packaging. When the packaging consists of more than one separableelement, an element of each separable element of the packaging would beinvolved like the wrapper and the bag. When the article consists of morethan one separable element, an element of each separable element of thearticle would be involved like the pad and peel strip. Theseconfiguration ties together those separable elements of the product.

Although any visual characteristic could be involved in thecoordination, desirably the visual characteristic provides an emotionalbenefit to a consumer. The characteristic is recognized by the consumerin a positive emotional sense. When the consumer is a female, acharacteristic that has a feminine flair like a flower pattern or a pinkcolor would be preferable. The characteristic that has a discretionaryvalue like a camouflage pattern or a dark color may be desirable.

Although any visual characteristic could be involved in thecoordination, desirably the visual characteristic is reinforced bysensory characteristics like tactile and aromatic. When visualcharacteristic communicates a feminine flair, the tactilecharacteristics would preferable communicate comfort like a silky feel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of an individualwrapper component.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an individualwrapper component.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an individual packaging component in anopen configuration with an absorbent product component in a partiallyunfolded configuration.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an outer packaging component configuredto hold a plurality of product components.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a product component in a partiallyfolded configuration.

FIG. 6 is a body-side plan view of an exemplary product component withportion thereof partially cut away.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a product componentwith a wrapper component.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a productcomponent with a wrapper component.

FIG. 9 is one embodiment of a peel strip having a pattern thereon.

FIG. 10 is a portion of one embodiment of a packaging component having apattern thereon.

FIG. 11 is another embodiment of a peel strip having a pattern thereon.

FIG. 12 is a portion of another embodiment of a wrapper component havinga pattern thereon.

FIG. 13 is a schematic graphical illustration of color hue, luminosityand saturation/vividness.

FIG. 14 shows the translation of a size of a pattern to visual anglebased on distance.

FIGS. 15A and 15B shows an example of an embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the peel strip and wrapper component are matched.

FIGS. 16A and 16B shows an example of an embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the absorbent article, peel strip and wrappercomponent are caused to match.

DEFINITIONS

It should be noted that, when employed in the present disclosure andclaims, the terms “comprises”, “comprising” and other derivatives fromthe root term “comprise” are intended to be open-ended terms thatspecify the presence of any stated features, elements, integers, steps,or components, and are not intended to preclude the presence or additionof one or more other features, elements, integers, steps, components, orgroups thereof.

As used herein, the term “article” or “article component” is used todescribe an item which is to be used by a consumer. For example,absorbent articles include without limitation diapers, pull-up typetraining pant garments, adult incontinence garments, male incontinenceproducts, tampons, vaginal suppositories, pantiliners, femaleincontinence pads, and sanitary napkins, which are sometime referred toas “personal care articles” or “absorbent personal care articles”.Examples of commercially available personal care articles include,without limitation, Poise® adult care products, including pantilinersand pads, and Kotex® feminine care products, including pads, tampons andliners, Depend® undergarments, underwear and guards, all available fromKimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis. Various exemplary products aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,765, entitled “Elasticized AbsorbentPad,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/392,116, filed Mar. 19,2003 and entitled “Multilayer Absorbent Article”, the entire disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. For the purposesof this patent, a separate or individual peel strip which protects theadhesive is considered to be a part of the article. If the peel stripalso serves as a wrapper, then the peel strip/wrapper is considered as apackaging component.

As used herein, the term “packaging” or “packaging component” is used todescribe any items which are associated with the article, but not usedwithin the absorbency purpose of the article. Packaging can be any itemswhich are used to transport, store, protect or hide the article.Examples of packaging include, without limitation, wrappers, pouches,bags, boxes and the like. Typically, boxes or bags are placed on storeshelves. Generally, these boxes or bags contain a plurality of absorbentpersonal care articles. These items may be referred to as an “outerpackaging component”. In addition, packaging may include an innerwrapper or pouch in which the one or more absorbent personal carearticles are placed. Wrappers and pouches may be referred to as an“inner packaging component”. These wrapper or pouches can be placed intoa second packaging component, such as the outer packaging describedabove.

As used herein, the term “product” is used to describe the items sold orotherwise, provided to a consumer or user. A product includes an articlecomponent and a packaging component.

As used herein, the term “element” is used to describe a separate orindividual component of a product or packaging. Product elements mayinclude, for example, a liner, an absorbent core, an outer cover, anattachment system, etc. Packaging elements may include, wrappermaterials, pouch materials, bag materials, bag handles, wrappers,pouches, bags and the like.

As used herein, the term “visual characteristic” is intended to mean avisible, distinguishing or recognizable feature or attribute of avisible aspect of one or more elements of the product. Visualcharacteristics-include color, texture, pattern, form and the like.

As used herein, the term “visible” is intended to mean attribute offeature which is visually perceived by an individual user or consumer.Generally for a consumer or user, the attribute should be visible in therange of about 0.25 feet (0.075 meters) to about 3 feet (0.91 meters).For a non-consumer or non-user, generally for an attribute to bevisible, the distance should be greater than about 3 feet (0.91 meters).As used herein, “perceived” or “perception” is the ability to recognizean attribute or feature when the visual angle that the attribute orfeature subtends is greater than about 5 minutes of visual arc and lessthan about 45 minutes of visual arc as determined by the followingequation:Minutes of visual arc=3438*(length of the object/distance from object)

-   -   Where    -   Length of the object=size of the object measured perpendicular        to the line of sight    -   Distance from object=distance from the front of the eye to the        object along the line of sight        A minute of visual arc is {fraction (1/60)}^(th) of 1 degree.

As used herein, the term “color” is intended to mean an individual'sperception of the spectral composition of visible light coming from aportion of an object. Color characteristics include hue, saturation andluminosity. Each is a separate color characteristic. Hue is theattribute of a color which allows it to be classified as a given color.Saturation, which is sometimes referred to as vividness, is theintensity of the color. Saturation is the degree of freedom from gray.Luminosity, sometimes referred to as value, is the degree of lightness(paleness) or darkness in a color. For example, a blue with white addedis a pale color, e.g. baby blue and blue with black added is a darkcolor, e.g. navy blue. A measurement of hue, saturation and luminosityare described in more detail below.

As used herein, the term “form” is used to describe an individual'sperception of the spatial variation of visible light due to the bulkshape and structure of a portion of an object in three dimensions.Stated another way, form is shape and structure of an item whichdistinguishes it from its surrounding which causes a spatiallydiscontinuous change in light that is transmitted through or reflectedfrom an item.

As used herein, the term “texture” is used to describe the individual'sperception of the spatial variation of visible light due to surfacestructure of a portion of an object in two dimensions. Textures can bevisual effects generated by surface roughness and visual illusioncreated by mere color or pattern. Texture may be the result of thenatural characteristics of a given material as a result of the materialformation process. Textures may also be imparted to a material usingtechniques known to those skilled in the art including, for example,printing, embossing, bonding, aperturing and the like.

As used herein, the term “pattern” is used to describe the individual'sperception of spatial variation of visible light due to contrasts inspatial variation of light due to the color, form, and texture of aportion of an object incorporated into the object by the manufactory ofthe elements. This contrast creates various visual distinct regions orlines sometimes referred to as “figures” within its surroundingsometimes referred to as “ground.” Patterns can be formed bycombinations of contrasting color, form, and texture relative to itssurroundings. An element can have more than one pattern, but eachpattern would be distinguishable, recognizable, and separate from theother patterns on the element. Pattern is also a term used to describethe observer's perception of combined effect of more than one color,form, or texture within a portion of an observer's field of view.Patterns may have a “length”, “extent”, “shape”, “position” and“orientation”. Each is a pattern characteristic within the scope of thepresent invention. Length is the perceived distance along the major axisof the pattern. The “major axis” is the axis of the longest symmetry.The extent of the pattern is the area of the pattern. Shape is simplythe shape of the pattern. Position is the location of the patternrelative to its surroundings. And orientation is position of the majoraxis of the pattern relative to its surroundings.

As used herein, the term “match” or “matched” is used to describe theway or degree two items visually fit together or are caused to fittogether. For example, two items are considered matched if some aspectsof one of the items are identical to similar aspects of another item. Inone form of match, two items resemble each other are said to match.

As used herein, the term “coordinate” or “coordination” is used todescribe how two components or elements of the overall personal careproduct visually belong together. Visual characteristics are said tocoordinate if one aspect of the visual characteristic is the same orfalls within limits described with this specification. Components orelements are considered to be coordinated if they match, or are causedto match. Colors may be coordinated if they have a hue, luminosity orsaturation that match within limits described below.

As used herein, the term “caused to match” is used to describe how twocomponents are made to appear matched one another by using acoordinating feature on an element of one or more of the componentswhich has visual characteristic which tie two other elements together.For example, if two elements of an personal care product each have avisual characteristic which are different and a third element has visualcharacteristics which match each of the visual characteristics of thetwo elements, the third element causes the two elements to be matched toone another.

As used herein, the term “nonwoven fabric or web” means a web having astructure of individual fibers or threads which are interlaid, but notin a regular or identifiable manner as in a knitted or woven fabric. Theterm also includes individual filaments and strands, yarns or tows aswell as foams and films that have been fibrillated, apertured, orotherwise treated to impart fabric-like properties. Nonwoven fabrics orwebs have been formed from many processes such as for example,meltblowing processes, spunbonding processes, airlaying processes andbonded carded web processes. The basis weight of nonwoven fabrics isusually expressed in ounces of material per square yard (osy) or gramsper square meter (gsm) and the fiber diameters useful are usuallyexpressed in microns. (Note that to convert from osy to gsm, multiplyosy by 33.91).

As used herein, the term “polymer” generally includes but is not limitedto, homopolymers, copolymers, such as for example, block, graft, randomand alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc. and blends andmodifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specificallylimited, the term “polymer” shall include all possible geometricalconfiguration of the material. These configurations include, but are notlimited to isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetries.

The term “body side” should not be interpreted to mean in contact withthe body of the user, but rather simply means the side that would facetoward the body of the user, regardless of whether an undergarment isactually being worn by the user and regardless of whether there are ormay be intervening layers between the component and the body of theuser. Likewise, the term “garment side” should not be interpreted tomean in contact with the garments of the user, but rather simply meansthe side that faces away from the body of the user, and therefore towardany outer garments that may be worn by the user, regardless of whetherthe undergarment is actually being worn by a user, regardless of whetherany such outer garments are actually worn and regardless of whetherthere may be intervening layers between the component and any outergarment.

The phrases “removeably attached,” “removeably attaching,” “removeablyconnected,” “removeably engaged,” “releasably attached,” “releasablyconnected,” or “releasably engaged,” and variations thereof, refers totwo or more elements being connected or connectable such that theelements tend to remain connected absent a separation force applied toone, both or all of the elements, and where the elements are capable ofbeing separated upon the application of a separation force. The requiredseparation force is typically beyond that encountered while wearing theabsorbent garment.

The phrases “fixedly secured,” “fixedly engaged,” “fixedly attached,”“fixedly connected,” and variations thereof, refers to two or moreelements being connected or connectable such that they are notdisconnected or otherwise separated, and are not intended to beseparated or disconnected by the end user, during the normal operationand use of the absorbent garment. Moreover, the separation of twoelements being so connected is likely to damage or make unusable atleast one of the two elements.

The terms “connecting,” “coupled,” “attached,” and “secured,” andvariations thereof, broadly covers two or more items being directlyconnected one to the other, or by way of one or more intervening membersor components.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a visually coordinated disposableabsorbent product; The disposable absorbent product has at least twoelements which have at least one visual characteristic in common withthe other element. In one aspect of the present invention, provided is avisually coordinated absorbent product having at least a first elementand a second element. Each element has at least a first and secondvisual characteristic, wherein the first and second visualcharacteristics are different from each other. In addition, the firstand second visual characteristic of the first element are matched to thefirst and second visual characteristics of the second element. More thantwo elements may have visual characteristic that are matched and theremay also be more than two visual characteristics which may be matched.In another aspect of the present invention, provided is a visuallycoordinated absorbent product having at least a first element, a secondelement and a third element. The first element has at least a first andsecond visual characteristic, the second element has at least one visualcharacteristic which is matched to the first visual characteristic ofthe first element and the third element has at least one visualcharacteristic which is matched to the second visual characteristic ofthe first element. By having the first element with a visualcharacteristic of the other elements, the first element causes thesecond and third elements to be matched. It is noted that more thanthree elements may be caused to match. Each element may have more thanone matched visual characteristic.

In another aspect of the present invention, generally a visuallycoordinated disposable absorbent product has an absorbent articlecomponent and a packaging component. At least one element of each of thecomponents are matched or caused to be matched to at least one elementof the other component, or in the aspect of color, have a hue,luminosity or saturation within limits described below. It has beendiscovered that providing a coordinated absorbent article and packingcomponent, many advantages may be obtained, including cost saving forthe pouch material, improved discretion for the users of the absorbentarticles since the coordination tends to camouflage the absorbentarticles in packaging components.

In addition, the present invention provides for products with a theme,such as femininity, which are more aesthetically pleasing to a user andwhich may provide for an emotional benefit to the user. The articlecomponent has at least a first and second visual characteristic, whereinthe first visual characteristic is different than the second visualcharacteristic. The article component is disposed in a packagingcomponent having at least the first and second visual characteristics.

Disposable absorbent articles such as, for example, feminine care andincontinent absorbent articles, generally include a liquid pervioustopsheet, a substantially liquid impervious backsheet, and an absorbentcore positioned and held between the topsheet and the backsheet. Thetopsheet is generally operatively permeable to the liquids that areintended to be held or stored by the absorbent article, and thebacksheet may be substantially impermeable or otherwise operativelyimpermeable to the liquids intended to be held or stored. Disposableabsorbent articles may also include other optional components or layers,such as liquid wicking layers, liquid distribution layers, barrierlayers, and the like, as well as combinations thereof, which may improvethe fluid handling and storage properties of the disposable absorbentarticle. Generally, disposable absorbent articles and the componentsthereof provide a body-facing surface and a garment-facing surface. Asan alternative, the substantially liquid impervious backsheet may bereplaced with a liquid pervious backsheet. When a liquid perviousbacksheet is used, generally the absorbent personal care article may beused in conjunction with another liquid impervious layer or article,such as liquid impervious pants.

To obtain a better understanding of the absorbent articles of thepresent invention, which may be present in a wrapper component as thepackaging component, attention is directed to FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIGS. 5and 6, an exemplary absorbent article 10 is shown as including an outercover 46 (otherwise referred to as a baffle or backsheet), an absorbentcore 48, an optional tissue layer 6, an optional surge layer or optionaldistribution layer 4 and a body side liner 44 (also referred to as thetop sheet). The absorbent article 10 also has a first side 16 and asecond side 18. The first and second sides 16, 18, respectively, are thelongitudinal sides of the elongated absorbent article. The sides can becontoured, for example in a concave shape, or they can be linear. Thesides can further include flaps (not shown) that extend laterallyoutward. Flaps are known in the art are shown in, for example U.S. Pat.No. 6,387,084 issued to VanGompel et al., which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety. In one embodiment (not shown), one or moreelastic elements are disposed along the sides to form a gasket with thebody of the user. Elastic sides are known in the art, as is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 6,315,765 issued to Datta et al., which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. In one embodiment, theelastic elements are disposed between the body side liner and the outercover.

The absorbent article 10 has a first body facing surface 20, whichusually includes the outer surface of the body side liner 44, and asecond garment facing side surface 22, which usually contains an outerportion of the outer cover 46. Applied to at least a portion of thesecond garment side surface 22 is a garment attachment adhesive. Invarious embodiments, the garment attachment adhesive is configured as asingle band of adhesive or as two or more spaced apart strips.Alternatively, the garment attachment adhesive includes a swirl patternof adhesive which encompasses a major portion of the second garmentfacing surface 22 of the absorbent article 10.

A release strip 28, also known as a releasable peel strip, is removablysecured to the garment attachment adhesive and serves to preventpremature contamination of the adhesive before the absorbent article 10is secured to the crotch portion of an undergarment. In variousembodiments, the garment attachment adhesive is designed to be securedto the inner crotch portion of an undergarment so as to keep theabsorbent article in register with the body of the user. The releasestrip 28 may extend beyond one or both of the ends 12, 14 of the outercover, as shown in FIG. 6. As an alternative, the release strip may beshorter than the ends of the outer cover 12 and 14, as shown in FIG. 5.Generally, the only requirement for the length of the release strip 28is that the release strip covers the garment adhesive often present onthe outer cover 46.

The body side liner or topsheet 44, which is preferably liquidpermeable, may be formed from one or more materials. The body side lineror topsheet 44 must be able to manage different body excretionsdepending on the type of article. In feminine care articles, often thebody side liner or body contacting layer must be able to handle mensesand urine. In the present invention, the body side liner or topsheet 44may include a layer constructed of any operative material, and may be acomposite material. For example, the liner or body contacting layer caninclude a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, a polymer film, afilm-nonwoven fabric laminate or the like, as well as combinationsthereof. Examples of a nonwoven fabric useable in the body side liner ortopsheet 44 include, for example, an airlaid nonwoven web, spunbondnonwoven web, meltblown nonwoven web, a bonded-carded-web,hydroentangled nonwoven webs, spunlace webs or the like, as well ascombinations thereof. Other examples of suitable materials forconstructing the body side liner or topsheet 44 can include rayon,bonded carded webs of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, orother heat-bondable fibers finely perforated film webs, net-likematerials, and the like, as well as combinations thereof. These webs canbe prepared from polymeric materials such as, for example, polyolefins,such as polypropylene and polyethylene and copolymers thereof,polyesters in general including aliphatic esters such as polylacticacid, nylon or any other heat bondable materials.

Other examples of suitable materials for the body side liner or topsheet44 are composite materials of a polymer and a nonwoven fabric material.The composite materials are typically in the form of integral sheetsgenerally formed by the extrusion of a polymer onto a nonwoven web, suchas a spunbond material. In a desired arrangement, the body side liner orbody contacting layer 44 can be configured to be operativelyliquid-permeable with regard to the liquids that the article is intendedto absorb or otherwise handle. The operative liquid-permeability may,for example, be provided by a plurality of pores, perforations,apertures or other openings, as well as combinations thereof, which arepresent or formed in the liner or body contacting layer. The aperturesor other openings can help increase the rate at which bodily liquids canmove through the thickness of the body side liner or body contactinglayer and penetrate into the other components of the article (e.g., intothe absorbent core 48). The selected arrangement of liquid-permeabilityis desirably present at least on an operative portion of the body sideliner or topsheet 44 that is appointed for placement on the body-side ofthe article. The body side liner or topsheet 44 can provide comfort andconformability, and can function to direct bodily exudates away from thebody and toward the absorbent core 48. The body side liner or topsheet44 can be configured to retain little or no liquid in its structure, andcan be configured to provide a relatively comfortable and non-irritatingsurface next to the body-tissue of a wearer.

The baffle or backsheet 46 may include a layer constructed of anyoperative material, and may or may not have a selected level ofliquid-permeability or liquid-impermeability, as desired. In aparticular configuration, the baffle or backsheet 46 may be configuredto provide an operatively liquid-impermeable baffle structure. Thebaffle or backsheet 46 may, for example, include a polymeric film, awoven fabric, a nonwoven fabric or the like, as well as combinations orcomposites thereof. For example, the baffle may include a polymer filmlaminated to a woven or nonwoven fabric. In a particular feature, thepolymer film can be composed of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesteror the like, as well as combinations thereof. Additionally, the polymerfilm may be micro-embossed, have a printed design, have a printedmessage to the consumer, and/or may be at least partially colored.Suitably, the baffle or backsheet 46 can operatively permit a sufficientpassage of air and moisture vapor out of the article, particularly outof an absorbent (e.g. storage or absorbent core 48) while blocking thepassage of bodily liquids. An example of a suitable baffle material caninclude a breathable, microporous film, such as those described in, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,900 to McCormack et al.

Bicomponent films or other multi-component films can also be used, aswell as woven and/or nonwoven fabrics which have been treated to renderthem operatively liquid-impermeable. Other suitable baffle materials maybe used, including closed cell polyolefin foams. For example, a closedcell polyethylene foam may be employed.

The liquid permeable body side liner 44 and the liquid-impermeablebaffle 46 may be peripherally sealed together to enclose the absorbentcore 48 to form the absorbent article 10. Alternatively, the body sideliner or topsheet 44 can be wrapped around both the absorbent 48 and thebaffle or backsheet 46 to form a wrapped pad. The body side liner 44 andbaffle 46, and other components of the absorbent article, can be joinedfor example with adhesive bonds, ultrasonic bonds, thermal bonds,pinning, stitching or any other attachment techniques known in the art,as well as combinations thereof.

The absorbent core 48 is designed to absorb body exudates, includingmenstrual fluid, blood, urine, and other body fluids. The absorbent core48 may contain one or more layers of absorbent material. The layers cancontain similar materials or different materials. Suitable materials forthe absorbent core 48 include, for example, cellulose, wood pulp fluff,rayon, cotton, and meltblown polymers such as polyester, polypropyleneor coform. Coform is a meltblown air-formed combination of meltblownpolymers, such as polypropylene, and absorbent staple fibers, such ascellulose. A preferred material is wood pulp fluff for its low cost,relative ease of formation and good absorbent properties.

The absorbent core 48 can also be formed from a composite comprised of ahydrophilic material which may be formed from various natural orsynthetic fibers, wood pulp fibers, regenerated cellulose or cottonfibers, or a blend of pulp and other fibers. A desired material is anairlaid material.

In one embodiment, the absorbent core 48 also includes a superabsorbentmaterial, in addition to or in place of the hydrophilic material, whichincreases the ability of the absorbent core to absorb a large amount offluid in relation to its own weight. Generally stated, thesuperabsorbent material can be a water-swellable, generallywater-insoluble, hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbent material, which iscapable of absorbing at least about 15, suitably about 30, and possiblyabout 60 times or more its weight in physiological saline (e.g. salinewith 0.9 wt % NaCl). The superabsorbent materials can be inserted asparticles or in sheet form. The superabsorbent material may bebiodegradable or bipolar. The hydrogel-forming polymeric absorbentmaterial may be formed from organic hydrogel-forming polymeric material,which may include natural material such as agar, pectin, and guar gum;modified natural materials such as carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, and hydroxypropyl cellulose; and synthetic hydrogel-formingpolymers. Synthetic hydrogel-forming polymers include, for example,alkali metal salts of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamides, polyvinylalcohol, ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers, polyvinyl ethers,polyvinyl morpholinone, polymers and copolymers of vinyl sulfonic acid,polyacrylates, polyacrylamides, polyvinyl pyridine, and the like. Othersuitable hydrogel-forming polymers include hydrolyzed acrylonitrilegrafted starch, acylic acid grafted starch, and isobutylene maleicanhydride copolymers and mixtures thereof. The hydrogel-forming polymersmay be lightly crosslinked to render the material substantially waterinsoluble. Crosslinking may, for example, be by irradiation or covalent,ionic, Van der Waals, or hydrogen bonding. Hydroxyfunctional polymershave been found to be good superabsorbents for sanitary napkins. Suchsuperabsorbents are commercially available from Dow Chemical,Hoechst-Celanese, and Stockhausen, Incorporated, among others, and are apartially neutralized salt of cross-linked copolymer of polyacrylic acidand polyvinyl alcohol having an absorbency under load value above 25grams of absorbed liquid per gram of absorbent material (g/g). Othertypes of superabsorbent materials known to those skilled in the art canalso be used.

Additional layers or substrates, including for example, the liquidacquisition and distribution layer 4, also referred to as a surge ortransfer layer, and an optional tissue layer 6 are also incorporatedinto the absorbent article, for example, between the body side liner ortopsheet 44 and the absorbent core 48. The distribution layer 4 may beshorter than the absorbent core 48 or have the same length as theabsorbent core 48. The distribution layer serves to temporarily hold aninsulting fluid to allow the absorbent core sufficient time to absorbthe fluid, especially when a superabsorbent material is present. In oneembodiment, the absorbent core, distribution layer and other components,such as tissue layers, are free floating (unattached) between the outercover and the liner, which are secured along only the peripheral edgesthereof. Alternatively, the absorbent core, transfer layer and othercomponents are attached to one or both of the outer cover and linerand/or to each other.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the absorbent article 10 is shown in afolded configuration. For example, the absorbent article can be foldedalong a pair of fold lines 30, 32 to form a tri-fold configuration. Inother embodiments, the absorbent article can be bi-folded, flat orrolled. The absorbent article is then inserted into an individualpackaging component, otherwise referred to as an inner wrappercomponent, a wrapper or pouch. Alternatively, a plurality (meaning twoor more) of article components may be disposed in a single pouch, and aplurality of pouches can be disposed in a package (shown in FIG. 4),otherwise referred to as an outer packaging component. Onearticle/packaging configuration is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,706 toMcManus, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The articles can beoriented in various ways within the individual packaging component, forexample with the fold lines 30, 32 running parallel or perpendicular tothe sides of the packaging component 68, 70.

In one embodiment, the wrapper component is formed as a portion of thearticle component. For example, an outer cover, such as the bafflematerial, can form a packaging component, as shown for example in U.S.Pat. No. 5,993,430, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Itshould be understood that in these embodiments, the article component isconsidered to be disposed in the packaging component when the packagingelement is sealed or otherwise closed. In other embodiments, the articlecomponent is rolled, with a flap portion of a packaging componentoverlying a panel portion of the packaging component, regardless ofwhether the packaging component is integral with the article componentor separate therefrom.

Although the wrapper component may have different configurations or canbe prepared in other ways without departing from the scope of thepresent invention, referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the wrapper componentmay have pouch 50 formed from a strip or web 52 of material having afirst and second ends having free edge 54, 56. It should be understoodthat the term “free edge” refers to an edge that is unattached after thepackage component is opened, regardless of whether the free edge isattached when the package component is closed. Accordingly, one or bothof the free edges may be formed along a perforation line, or may beadhered to an underlying layer, with the edge defined by the perforationline being a “free edge” after the perforation line is broken. The freeedge can be a single layer cut or formed edge, or can include adouble-layer folded edge, or can include an edge formed by a pluralityof layers. The pouch material can be formed from a non-woven material,films, paper, laminates, and/or cloth (including woven) materials, andcombinations thereof. For example, the pouch can be made as disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 6,716,203, to Sorebo et al., the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, thepouch is made of a film/spunbond laminate material available fromKimberly-Clark Corp, and know as HBSTL (“highly breathable stretchthermal laminate”), and which material is further disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 6,276,032, to Nortman et al., the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. Various embodiments of anon-woven pouch material can have a basis weight less than about 50 gsm,alternatively between about 10 gsm and about 40 gsm.

Each of the first and second ends is folded along fold lines 58, 60 thatdefine the top and bottom edge of the pouch respectively. The foldedpouch has a back panel 62, a first panel 64 and a second panel 66. Thefirst panel 64 and back panel 62 are secured along side edges 68, 70thereof to form a pocket shaped to receive the absorbent article. In oneembodiment, the pocket and pouch are shaped and dimensioned to receive asingle article component, which is individually wrapped in the pouch.The second panel 66 is folded over the first panel 64 such that the freeedge 54 of the second panel overlies the first panel 64. In thisconfiguration, the second panel 66 acts as a flap. The first panel 64has a covered or overlap portion 57 extending between the free edge 54(exterior) and the free edge 56 (interior), which covered or overlappedportion 57 underlies the second panel. In one embodiment, there is nooverlap, rather, the free edges 54, 56 abut or are separated by a smalldistance. In one example, the portion 57 has a length of about 0 about50 mm, generally about 2-22 mm and typically about 4-10 mm between thefree edges 54, 56. In various embodiments, the overlap distance is lessthan or equal to about 95% of the overall packaging component length ina closed configuration, more desirable less than or equal to about 35%of the packaging component length, and more desirably less than or equalto about 20% of the packaging component length. In various embodiments,the free edge 54 is positioned a distance from either edge 58, 60 thatis greater than or equal to about 10% of the overall length of thepackaging component (in a closed configuration), more desirably greaterthan or equal to about 30%, and more desirably about 50% of thepackaging component length. The first panel further includes anuncovered second portion 59 extending between the free edge 54 and thebottom edge 58. Of course, it should be understood that the length andwidth of the article and packaging components can vary according to thetype of article and the size of the article.

As an alternative to having the free edge 54 of the second panel 66overlap the first panel, the wrapper component can be designed such thatthere is no overlap between the free edge 54 and the first panel 64,without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example,the free edges 54, 56 may abut each other or are separated by a smalldistance such that there is a gap between the free edges (not shown). Assuch, in this alternative, the second panel is defined merely as anotherpanel.

A pair of side seals 74 secures the first panel 64 to the back 62, andthe second panel 66 to the back 62 and to the first panel 64. The sideseals are desirably formed after the first panel is folded over the backpanel and the second panel is folded over the back panel and the firstpanel. Although, it is possible that the first panel could first besealed to the back panel, and the second panel then sealed to one orboth of the back panel and first panel. In an alternative configuration,the second panel is not sealed at the side edges of the first panel andback panel. This embodiment is described in more detail below. The sidesmay be sealed by any method known to those skilled in the art. Exemplarysealing methods include, for example, adhesive sealing, bonding by theapplication of heat and pressure, ultrasonic bonding or any other artknown bonding methods. In one embodiment of the present invention, theside seals 74 may be frangible, meaning they can be easily broken suchthat the second panel 66 can be separated from the first panel 64 andback panel 62, and such that the first panel 64 can be easily separatedfrom the back panel 62, wherein the product component 10 is exposed forremoval from the pouch by the user.

In one embodiment, the second panel 66 is releasably secured to thefirst panel 64. For example, a fastening element 72, shown as a tab inFIGS. 1 and 2, is secured across the free edge 54 of the second panel 66to secure the second panel 66 to the first panel 64. The fasteningelement can be releasably secured to both of the second panel and firstpanel, or it can be fixedly secured to one of the second panel and firstpanel and releasably secured to the other. Other possible configurationinclude that the fastening element is fixedly secured to both panels andone or both of the panels is provided with an area of weakness, such asa perforated area, which allows a portion of one or both of the panelsto be removed or damaged when the wrapper is opened. The fasteningelement can be formed as adhesive tape, a snap, a button, a mechanicalfastener (e.g., hook and loop), a tie, or as any other device known bythose skilled in the art. The fastening element can have variousalternative shapes, including but not limited to a square, rectangle,triangle, circle, oval, obround, oblong or diamond shape, or any otherirregular shape or pattern. In an alternative embodiment, the fasteningelement is formed on the inside of the second panel such that it engagesthe first panel as the second panel is folded thereover and is notvisible to the user. For example, the fastening of the second panel 66to the first panel 64 may be accomplished by the use of an adhesiveapplied to the side of the second panel 66 which contacts the firstpanel 64, to the side of the first panel 64 which contacts the secondpanel 66, or both. This adhesive may be applied as a ribbon, dot, aswirl pattern or any other pattern which effectively adheres the secondpanel 66 to the first panel 64. In another alternative way to fasten thesecond panel 66 to the first panel 64, the second panel 66 is simplysealed to the first panel 64 with a heat seal or other weld, with theweld defining the fastening element. In another embodiment, the secondpanel 66 is not sealed or otherwise attached to the first panel 64, butrather is simply folded thereover. Alternatively, the sides of thesecond panel are sealed to the back panel and to the first panel, withthe side seals being breakable in response to a user grasping andlifting the second panel. It is within the scope of the presentinvention that the sensory cue could be located on the fasteningelement.

In some embodiments, the second panel 66 is refastenably secured to thefirst panel 64, while in others, the second panel is not intended to besecured to the first panel once the packaging component is opened. Forexample, in one embodiment, the free edge 54 of the second panel 66 isdefined by a perforation line, with the second panel not beingrefastenable after the perforation is broken.

Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of absorbent articles 10, whetherindividually wrapped as shown in FIGS. 1-3, or left unwrapped, arepackaged in an outer packaging or bulk packaging component 76, meaning acomponent capable of holding two or more absorbent articles. The outeror bulk packaging component 76 is typically the packaging used toprovide the absorbent products to consumers on store shelves. The outeror bulk packaging typically provided consumers with a convenient meansto transport the absorbent articles from the retailer to their home orother place of use. In one embodiment, the packaging component is formedas a bag having at least one side seal 78 securing a pair of edges ofthe bag together. In other embodiments, the plurality of absorbentarticles is packaged in a box or carton. The bags may be prepared from anon-woven material, polymer film, paper, laminate, and/or cloth(including woven) materials, and combinations thereof. Boxes or cartonsmay be prepared from materials such as cardboard, paperboard and thelike.

In the present invention, the personal care product may have a packagingcomponent and absorbent article component that are coordinated with eachother. Coordination may be achieved using certain combinations of visualcharacteristics which unite or harmonize the appearance of an absorbentpersonal care article with a packaging component. Coordination may beachieved by matching visual characteristics of the packaging and articlecomponents or by causing the components to be matched. As describedabove, visual characteristics are features or characteristics that arediscernible by sight during the normal use of the product. Examples ofdifferent types of visual characteristics, which may be employed in thepresent invention include, without limitation, color, form, texture,pattern, transmittance/opacity, gloss, and sheen, among others.

Of the visual characteristics, color is a characteristic that is simpleto quantify. Colors have some basic characteristics, including hue,saturation, and luminosity. Each of these terms is described above. Agiven color may be varied by changing the saturation and luminosity.Saturation is changed by adding a neutral color, black, white, or gray.Luminosity may be changed by adding a brightener to a given color.Again, each of these terms is defined above. In the present invention,if two colors have the same hue, whether or not they are different insaturation or luminosity, the two colors are considered coordinated.Likewise, if two colors have the same saturation or the same luminosity,the colors are considered to be coordinated. Colors which have the samehue, saturation and luminosity are considered matched. Color may beimparted by any means know to those skilled in the art, including, forexample, printing, dyeing, pigmenting and the like.

Form may be accomplished by techniques know to those skilled in the art.Form can be construed on the simplest scale as shape. Shape may beimparted to the components by know methods such as cutting and the like.By using the term “shape” in this context, it is intended that theoutline, edges and the like have a shape in addition to a linearoutline. Generally, shapes are considered the same if the aspects of oneshape are proportional to another shape. For example, in the case of atriangle, if all the angles are identical in two different triangles,but the sides are different in length, the two triangles are consideredto be coordinated since they have the same proportions relative to eachother. Stated another way, shapes are considered to be coordinated ifthe shapes are the same or are proportional to each other. In thepresent invention, the shape or form of the wrapper or some aspect ofthe wrapper, for example the second panel or opening, could have a shapeassociated with one or more elements of the article component, forexample the shape of the ends of the peel strip.

Textures can be visual effects generated by rough surfaces, and ordifferences in the surface characteristics, or visual illusions createdby mere color or pattern. Texture may be the result of the naturalcharacteristics of a given material as a result of the materialformation process. Textures may also be imparted to a material usingknown techniques known to those skilled in the art including, forexample, printing, embossing, bonding, aperturing and the like.

One or more objects, one or more geometric and non-geometric shapesand/or one or more colors having some relationship with one another mayachieve patterns. Patterns may be random or repeating. Repeatingpatterns typically have objects, shapes, colors in a given frequency orspacing. Patterns can be achieved by repeating a single object, or shapeor can be achieved by repeating multiple objects or shapes. Repeating oralternating two or more colors with a given frequency may also createpatterns. Patterns may be formed by using techniques including, forexample, printing, embossing, bonding, aperturing and the like.

Any known printing method may be used so long as a pattern or a texturecan be imparted to the surface being printed. Embossing may beaccomplished, for example, by passing a material between a heated ornon-heated anvil roll and a heated or non-heated embossing roll, withthe embossing roll containing a pattern. Other techniques for impartingpatterns or texture include, for example, aperturing, creating layers,orientation of materials, bonding patterns and the like. Texture canalso be created by selection of materials having the same or similarvisual characteristic, beyond color, and patterns imposed on thematerial.

Other visual characteristics that may be used in the present inventioninclude, for example, transmittance/opacity, gloss, and sheen of thematerials used to produce the components.

In the simplest form of the present invention, the visually coordinatedabsorbent product has at least a first element and a second element,each element comprises at least a first and second visualcharacteristic, wherein the first and second visual characteristics aredifferent from each other and the first and second visual characteristicof the first element are matched to the first and second visualcharacteristics of the second element. As an example, a wrappercomponent has a pattern of purple printed flowers thereon and an elementof the absorbent article, for example the peel strip or the baffle mayhave the same pattern of purple flowers printed thereon. The pattern offlowers is a first visual characteristic and the purple hue of theflowers is a second visual characteristic. As a result, the absorbentarticle is coordinated with the packaging component due to the presenceof the pattern of purple flowers on both components. Coordination of theproduct in the present invention is obtained by having two or morecomponents with two or more visual characteristics that match, or causedto match one another. While the present specification describes theinvention in terms of first and second visual characteristics, this doesnot mean that there cannot be more than two visual characteristicscreating the desired coordination affect. In fact, the more sharedvisual characteristic there are, the more items appear to becoordinated. In the present invention, there may be two, three, four,five, six, seven, eight, nine or more visual characteristic which arecoordinated. In one aspect of the present invention, there are at leastsix visual characteristics that are coordinated, and desirably at leastnine characteristics that are coordinated.

As is set forth above, the first and second visual characteristics mustbe different in some aspect. It is possible for the visualcharacteristics to be two different colors, a color and a pattern, atexture and a color, a texture and a pattern, two different patterns,two different textures and the like. If there are three characteristicswhich are different, then there could be two different colors and apattern; three different colors; a color, a pattern and a texture; amongmany other combinations.

In one aspect of the present invention, white is generally notconsidered as a color is used as the coordinating feature if white is apredominate color on the element being coordinated. This is becausewhite is the predominate color of personal care articles white do notlend itself as a coordinating color. However, white may be acoordinating color, provided that it is not used as the predominatecolor on the components or surfaces being coordinated. Stated anotherway, white may be a coordinating color if it is used as an accent or anon-dominate color. By “non-dominate color” it is intended mean a colorwhich encompasses less than 50%, desirable less that 30%, of the surfacearea of a surface. Most desirably, white is not used as a coordinatingcolor.

As explained above, in one embodiment, the first and second visualcharacteristics may be configured as first and second colors. Desirably,each of the first and second colors is different from one another byhaving a different hue. One or more colors may also be different byvirtue of having a different luminosity and/or saturation/vividness.Saturation/vividness is the intensity of the color from pale to dark.Colors of different hues can be coordinated or match by virtue of havingthe same luminosity or saturation. For example, pale or pastel colors ofdifferent hues tend to blend together or appear that they belongtogether or are matched due to the fact that the saturation levels aresimilar. Other factors in color differences include different finishese.g. gloss/finish verses a matte finish. Matte finishes tend to diffuseor scatter light compared to a gloss finish, which is specular.

At the same time, the first color of the personal care articlecomponent, such as the absorbent article, can be coordinated with thefirst color of one or both of the packaging components. In oneembodiment, the second color of the personal care article component,such as the absorbent article, is also coordinated with the second colorof one or both of the packaging components. The coordination of thecolors is most desirable at distances of less than two feet, such thatit is visible to the user of the article. At the same time, thecoordination can provide a disguising aspect that is effective for anobserver who is greater than 2 to 3 feet away from the article.

Referring to FIG. 13, hue is measured by the angular position around thecircle 110. Two colors are considered coordinated if they have first andsecond hues that are within about ±120 degrees of each other on thecircle 13, alternatively within ±30 degrees, alternatively within ±15degrees, alternatively within ±10 degrees, alternatively within ±5degrees of each other, or alternatively within ±0.50 degrees of eachother. Colors of different hues are also considered coordinated if theyhave a value (luminosity) difference of less than about 5% of maximum,alternatively less than about 3.0% of maximum or alternatively less thanabout 1% of maximum. Colors of different hues are also consideredcoordinated if they have a saturation difference of less than about 5%of maximum, alternatively less than about 3.0% of maximum oralternatively less than about 2.5% of maximum.

The hue, luminosity and saturation/vividness are measured as followsusing the following equipment calibrated in the following way.

Equipment

Quantitative calorimetric measurements are typically made using acolorimeter or spectrophotometer. However, these instruments typicallyhave large apertures (˜1 cm) requiring a large color block formeaningful determination, making them unsuitable for color determinationof graphics that may be composed of narrow lines or points whose widthis much less than the instrument aperture. Therefore, a Zeiss KS400Image Analysis system was used for feature identification andcolorimetric measurement.

The Zeiss KS400 used a Zeiss AxioCam color CCD camera (1300×1030 pixels,3 channel color, 8 bit per channel) equipped with a 20 mm AF-Nikkor lens(f/2.8). The camera was mounted vertically facing down onto a samplestage and had an effective field of view was 97×80 mm. Incident samplestage illumination was by four incandescent floodlamps (Sylvania) on adouble Variac (70%; 90%), resulting in an illuminance of approximately11,000 lux. The lamps were above the left and right edges of the samplestage directed towards the field of view at approximately 45 degrees.

Calibration

The camera black reference was with the lens cap on. The camera whitereference was a Polaroid 803 positive with 15 ms exposure. To accountfor the warm color illumination bias of the floodlamps, the red, green,and blue (RGB) values were offset using the white selection tool in theKS400 software, resulting in corrected RGB values that yielded a whiteimage.

Sample Setup and Image Acquisition

Samples are placed on the stage (normal viewing angle) and under ¼″plate glass to minimize topographical effects. Images of thecolor-bearing graphical portion are acquired at 15 ms exposure.

Image Analysis

Image analysis is performed in Matlab (v.6.5.1, release 13; Mathworks,Inc) with the Image Processing Toolbox (v4.0). RGB images were convertedto hue, saturation, and value (HSV) space using Matlab's hsv2rgb.mcommand. Choosing a saturation lower limit of 0.05 (0-1 scale) resultedin practical detection of all the colored/inked portions of the graphic.The hue, saturation, and value (i.e. luminosity) densiometricdistributions were calculated for the detected regions in each image.

As an example, colors of different hues but with similar saturationlevels appear to be coordinated. As an example, pastel colors appear tobe coordinated, even though the hues are different. Likewise, color ofdifferent hues but with similar luminosity or vividness levels appear tobe coordinated, with one another

Coordination in the present invention may also contain commonly usedcolor schemes which tend to harmonize or coordinate. That is, the firstand second visual color characteristics may be selected to enhance thevisual coordination in addition to having at least a first and secondcolor as the first and second visual characteristics. Examples of thesecolor schemes include, for example, monochromatic color, complementarycolors, analogous colors, warm and cool colors, neutral colors, colorcontrast, tetradic color scheme, triad color scheme or other chord colorschemes. Monochromatic color scheme uses one base color but varies thecolor tint, shade and/or tone. Complementary colors are colors which areopposite each other on a color wheel. Analogous colors are colors whichare adjacent each other on the color wheel. Warm and cool color schemesuse three colors, two of which are warm colors and one is cool color ortwo cool colors and one warm color. Warm colors are generally associatedwith fire and the sun, for example, red, yellow and orange and coolcolors are generally associated with water the sky and foliage, forexample green, blue and violet. Neutral color coordination includesusing shades of black, white, gray and beige together. Color contrastscheme include using dark and light colors together. Tetradic is a fourcolor scheme and a triad color scheme is a three color scheme, both ofwhich are known to those skilled in the art. Any of these color schemesmay be used in the present invention to help coordinate and harmonizetwo or more colors as the visual characteristics in the presentinvention.

Coordination may be created by providing a theme on the absorbentarticle and packaging component. Possible themes include, for example,femininity, security, protection, or emotional themes such asfriendship, purity, natural among others.

Two patterns are considered coordinated when they have substantially thesame pattern elements, regardless of other factors such as orientation.To gain a better understanding of how patterns are considered to becoordinated within the scope of the present invention, reference is madeto FIGS. 9-12. In FIG. 9, an element of an absorbent personal careproduct, in this case a peel strip 28, is configured with a pattern 122,in the case shown, the pattern is a pattern of ivy. FIG. 10 showsanother element of an absorbent person care product, in this case thepackaging component 50, which is configured with a coordinated pattern122 of ivy. The patterns 122 are coordinated, i.e., substantially thesame shape, even thought they are of different sizes. Summarily,referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, an element of the personal care product, apeel strip 28, is configured with a pattern 126, 146 of tulips andscrolls, while the packaging component 50 is configured with acoordinated pattern 126, 146 of tulips and scrolls. The patterns 126,146 are coordinated, i.e., substantially the same shape, even thoughthey are of different sizes and notwithstanding that additional patternelements 128, 130 are also present on the packaging component 50. Statedanother way, in the present invention, two patterns are consideredcoordinated if the patterns have the same or similar pattern elements,whether the patterns are matched identically or similarly matched, byhaving the same pattern but being of a different size. It is furthernoted that patterns are considered coordinated if there are patternelements which are the same or similar, even if additional patternelements are present.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there are at least twodifferent types of visual characteristics. One particular combination isthe use of color and pattern. As set forth above, the more shared visualcharacteristics there are, the more coordinated the personal carearticle and packaging component will appear.

In the present invention, when color or patterns are used and areprinted, the color or pattern may be printed on the outer surface, on aninner surface or between surfaces. For example, in the case of thegarment side outer cover, the color or pattern may be applied to theside of the garment side outer cover which is positioned during useadjacent the garment or may be applied to the side of the garment sideouter cover which is proximate the absorbent core. Alternatively, if thegarment side outer cover is a multilayer structure, the color or patternmay be printed between the layers. Another alternative for obtainingcolor or a pattern on the personal care article is to apply any adhesiveused to hold layers of the absorbent article together with a coloredadhesive or to apply the adhesive in a pattern. The same is true withthe wrapper. The color or pattern may be applied to the outside surfaceof the wrapper, on the inside surface of the wrapper or between layersof the wrapper if the wrapper has multiply layers.

In order to obtain a better understanding of the present invention,attention is directed to FIGS. 1-3. In these figures, the packagingcomponent 50 has at least a first and second visual characteristic. Forexample, the wrapper 52, preferably an outer surface 78 thereofincluding for example the back 62, second panel 66 and the portion ofthe first panel 64 not covered by the second panel, may have a firstcolor and the outer surface of the fastening element 72 may have asecond color, or the outer surface of the wrapper 52 may have aplurality of colors, including a first and second color. Alternatively,a portion or the entirety of the outer surface of the wrapper 52 mayhave an embossed pattern or printing applied thereto, which may includeone or more shapes. Accordingly, in various exemplary embodiments, thefirst visual characteristic may be a color and the second visualcharacteristic may be a different color, with one or both of the colorsapplied to the wrapper and/or fastening element. In another embodiment,the first visual characteristic may be a color, and the second visualcharacteristic may be an embossment, pattern, shape (e.g., fasteningelement) or side seal. In yet another embodiment, the first visualcharacteristic may be a first embossment, printing or dyeing pattern andthe second visual characteristic may be a second embossment, printing ordyeing pattern.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bulk packaging component 76 also has at least afirst and second visual characteristic. For example, the outer surface80 of packaging component may have one or more colors, printings, sideseal configurations, etc. In a desired embodiment, the first and secondvisual characteristics of the bulk packaging component are correspond toand are coordinated with the first and second visual characteristics ofthe individual packaging component.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the article component 10 also has atleast a first and second visual characteristic that correspond to andare coordinated with the first and second visual characteristics of oneor both of packaging components 50, 76. For example, a portion of one ormore of the outer cover 46, peel strip 28, absorbent core 48,distribution layer 4 or tissue layer 6 has a first visualcharacteristic, while another portion thereof, or another element, has asecond visual characteristic, with the first and second visualcharacteristics corresponding to and being coordinated with the firstand second visual characteristics of one or both of the packagingcomponents. In various embodiments, portions of the absorbent core,surge layer and/or tissue layer, or any other substrate disposed betweenthe liner and outer cover, are visible through the liner, which is atleast partially see-through, while in other layers such interiorcomponents may not be visible. In addition, a body-side surface of theouter cover may be visible through the liner and/or absorbent core onthe body-side surface of the absorbent article.

In one embodiment, the outer cover 46 and the wrapper 52 are the samefirst color, while the outer surface of the peel strip 28 and thefastening element 72 are the same second color, meaning the colors havesimilar hues or matched hues., saturation and/or luminosity, orcombinations thereof, as defined below. At the same time, the first andsecond colors of the article component are different from each other,meaning that the colors have different hues, saturation and/orluminosity, or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the outercover 46 and the fastening element 72 are the same first color, whilethe outer surface of the peel strip 28 and the wrapper 52 are the samecolor. The various colors include without limitation white, black,yellow, orange, purple, green, red, blue, and pink. In otherembodiments, one of the core 48, surge layer 4 and tissue layer 6 are afirst color, desirably non-white, which is visible to the user throughthe liner 44 and which corresponds to a first color of the wrapper 52,article component 76 and/or fastener element 72. For example, the outercover can be configured as a purple, blue, pink or green, with theabsorbent core being white or some other different color, and with oneor both of the surge layer and tissue layer also being purple, blue,pink or green. At the same time, one of the wrapper and fasteningelement are made purple, blue, pink or green, with the other of thewrapper and fastening element being white or the other different color.In other embodiments, one of the article and/or packaging components canhave a color gradient, wherein the color transitions from one color toanother, or one or more of the properties thereof changes over adistance.

In other embodiments, the liner, peel strip or outer cover are providedwith an embossment (i.e., macro-embossing that is discernable to theuser) or a printing or dyeing pattern that corresponds to an embossmentor printing pattern on the wrapper, fastening element or packagingcomponent.

Of course, it should be understood that the packaging components 52, 76and article components 10 could have more than two coordinated visualcharacteristics, including for example three characteristics such as apair of colors and an embossment and/or printing/dyeing, or threecolors, or any combination of the visual characteristics set forth aboveor otherwise known in the art.

In one embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the packagingcomponent 50 is made of a combination of blue fibers. The blue of thefibers has a consistent hue but the process of adding the blue to thefibers creates blue fibers of varying saturation. So, the fibers appearto vary in vividness with some of the fibers almost appearing white andthe pouch appearing as a random assortment of blues. This randomassortment of blues allow the packaging component 50 to coordinate tothe various colors in the article component 10 elements, for example awhite peel strip 28 and blue baffle 46. For example, in one embodiment,the difference in the hue between the outer surface of the baffle, whichis blue, and the pouch, which is blue, is 13.6 degrees and thedifference in the value (luminosity) is 0.6% of maximum.

This coordination also allows the packaging component to hide or obscurethe article component disposed therein. In essence, the coordinationleads the observer (standing 2 or more feet away—as opposed to the userstanding within 2 feet of the article) to consider the packaging andarticle components as a single unit, rather than as two separate units.Therefore, the observer has a more difficult time distinguishing the padwithin the pouch. In this way, the coordination serves a dual purpose ofproviding a more aesthetically appealing article to the user, whilehiding the article from observers or non-users.

Referring to FIGS. 7-12, different embodiments of various article andpackaging components are shown with various coordinating visualcharacteristics. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the absorbent article50 is shown as having a pattern of alternating strips 110, 112 of firstand second colors. Likewise, the packaging component 50 has the samepattern of alternating strips 110, 112 in the same colors. It should beunderstood that two patterns are coordinated if they both have at leastone substantially identical element, or if the overall distribution ofelements in a certain region is substantially identical. Therefore, andfor example, the patterns of the article and packaging components inFIG. 7 are coordinated in two ways, (1) each component has asubstantially identical element (e.g., one of the stripes 110, 112) and(2) both components have a substantially identical distribution ofelements 110, 112 thereover, i.e., a plurality of similarly dimensionedstripes alternating in color. For example, a checker board pattern wouldbe coordinated by the shape of the individual elements (squares) as wellas by the overall distribution thereof (alternating colors andpositioning). It should be understood that for the first type of patterncoordination (substantially identical elements), the elements do nothave to be of the same size or oriented in the same orientation, butrather that they merely have substantially the same shape. With therespect to the second type of pattern coordination, the individualelements do not even have to have the same shape, as long as the overalldistribution is coordinated. It should be understood that the articleand packaging components 10, and 50, respectively of FIG. 7 are alsocoordinated by way of the colors of the stripes, which have one or morecoordinated hues, luminosities and saturation/vividness values.

Referring to FIG. 8, the article component 110 is coordinated with thefirst packaging component 50 first by way of the colors of the patternelement 120 and the pattern element 110 and second by way of the colorof the backsheet 46 and the pattern element 112. The article component50 is coordinated with the second packaging component 118 first by wayof the pattern elements 120, second by way of the color of the patternelements 120, and third by way of the color of the backsheet 46 andcolor of the base sheet 140.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a peel strip 28 is configured with apattern 122 of ivy, while the packaging component 50 is configured witha coordinated pattern 122 of ivy. As described above, the patterns 122are coordinated. The peel strip 28 is further coordinated with thepackaging component 10 by way of the color of the pattern 122 on thepeel strip with the color of the background on the packaging component,which are both blue for example with coordinated colors, including forexample hues, saturations and/or luminosities, or combinations thereof.Likewise, the color of the background of the peel strip 28 iscoordinated with the color of the ivy pattern 122 on the packagingcomponent.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a peel strip 28 is configured with apattern 126, 146 of tulips and scrolls, while the packaging component 50is configured with a coordinated pattern 126, 146 of tulips and scrollsas described above. The peel strip 28 is further coordinated with thepackaging component 10 by way of the color of the patterns 126, 146 onthe peel strip with the color of the background on the packagingcomponent, which are both blue for example with coordinated colors,including for example hues, saturations and/or luminosities, orcombinations thereof. Likewise, the color of the background of the peelstrip 28 is coordinated with the color of the patterns 126, 146, 128 and130 on the packaging component.

FIGS. 15A and 15B show an exemplary product of the present inventionwith coordinating pattern and color. FIG. 15A shows a wrapper packagingcomponent 50 having a pattern of flowers 127 which have a color hue.FIG. 15B show an absorbent product 10 has a peel strip 28 which has thesame pattern of flowers 127 of the same hue. As can be scene, the peelstrip 28 and the packaging component have a matched pattern.

FIGS. 16A and 16B show an exemplary product of the present inventionhaving a absorbent article 10 with a peel strip 28 and a packagingcomponent being caused to coordinate. FIG. 16A shows a wrapper packagingcomponent 50 having a pattern of flowers 127 which have a color hue anda pattern or color 129 being used as the background for the pattern offlowers 127. FIG. 16B show an absorbent product 10 has a peel strip 28which has the same pattern of flowers 127 and same hue as the pattern offlowers on the wrapper component 50. However, the peel strip does nothave the pattern or color 129 applied thereto. The baffle 22 does havethe pattern or color 129 applied thereto. As a result, the wrappercomponent 50, with its pattern of flowers 127 and pattern or color 129,causes the peel strip 28 to coordinate with the pattern or color 129present on the baffle 22.

The coordination described above in reference to the FIGS. 1-12, 15 and16 is merely used to show what is intended by coordination. The presentinvention goes beyond what is specifically shown in the FIGS. 1-12, 15and 16. Other elements of the personal care article may also becoordinated and types of coordinating features will be described andcoordination may be achieved using many different color schemes.Ideally, its is beneficial to coordinate the packaging and personal carearticle with objects, or items often associated with positive lifeexperiences within a users life, such as floral displays in the case offeminine care articles. As is discussed above, the visualcharacteristics may be imparted in numerous ways including printing,embossing, bonding, aperturing, among others.

Embossing is an effective way to impart texture and pattern visualcharacteristics to a packaging component and absorbent article.Embossing can be used to promote a feminine flair to the absorbentarticles without adding per unit cost to the articles produce, unlikeprinting. In the present invention, embossing of the pouch materialenables a user to easily locate the pouch and absorbent articlecombination when the pouch in located in a purse, backpack or othersimilar personal object transporting means, when the absorbent articleis out-or-sight. The embossing may be placed on the body facing side orgarment side of the personal care article. In addition, the same orsimilar coordinating embossing pattern may be placed on the packagingcomponent, including the outer packaging component and the pouch. Theembossing pattern may be a high density embossing pattern, or a lowdensity embossing pattern, both of which may be registered ornon-registered. For further feminine flair, it is desirable that theembossing pattern be a soft pattern like floral elements.

In selecting of the size of patterns applied to the wrapper/packagingcomponent, the following should be taken into consideration. The sizecan be adjusted according to the visual angle and the distance in whichthe object is viewed. Typically, the threshold of pattern recognition isabout 5 minutes of an arc. Generally, it is desirable to have a visualangle in the range of about 16 to 24 minutes of arc and usually 20-22minutes of arc. The size translated in linear dimensions for a patternfrom the arc dimensions is shown in FIG. 14. As can be seen in this asthe distance from a pattern increases, the size of the pattern or objectmust increase. Typically, there three regions for viewing personal carearticles. Region 1 is less than two feet, in which the personal carearticle is typically only seen by the user of the personal care article.Region 2 is between two and three feet and is a region in which both theuser and non-user of the personal care article may view the personalcare article. Region 3 is beyond three feet, in which the personal carearticle is typically only viewed by a non-user. Therefore, selecting thesize of the pattern on the personal care article or packaging should bemade taking into account FIG. 14, depending if it is desirable for anon-user to see the pattern on the packaging or personal care article.However, from the standpoint of older users, the size of the pattern mayhave to be increased beyond that which is shown in FIG. 14, in order forthe pattern to be visible.

Another factor to consider in selection of color and a pattern is thecontrast limits between the pattern and the adjacent surroundings. Ifthe contrast is not sufficient, then the pattern may not be viewable,even if it is with the size requirements shown in FIG. 14. Generally,the contrast needs to be at least 0.05 on a scale of 0 to 1 in order fora pattern to be visible. 0 is no contrast and 1 is maximum contrast.

Patterns can be more discrete if the pattern is less linear and lessperpendicular. In current package and personal care articleconfigurations. Generally, when it comes to incontinence pad and linersand feminine care pads and liners, the silhouettes of or marking on thepads or liners may be visible through the packaging. To make thesilhouette and marking more discrete, patterns could be placed on thepackaging component in the regions where the pad or liners are visiblethrough the packaging or patterns could be placed on the pad or liner tohelp hide the silhouette of the pad or liner. By having the pattern onthe personal care article being the same as the pattern of the patternson the pad or liner tends to blend in with pattern on the packagingcomponent.

Another way to coordinate the article component and the packagingcomponent is to provide a common shape (other than a straight line) toboth the article and the packaging component. While absorbent articleshave shapes which make them useful for their intended purpose, somecomponents or aspect of the absorbent article have shapes which can bevaried without determent to the functionality of the absorbent article.For example, the peel strip that protects the garment adhesive may haveshapes at the end which are scalloped, sine wave or any other shape.Likewise, the side edges of the peel strip may also be shaped. Anotherelement of the absorbent component such as the surge layer or tissuelayer which is positioned between the absorbent core and the body sideliner. The surge layer or tissue layer may also be shaped with a similarshape as the peel strip described above. It is noted that only one ofthe peel strip or surge/tissue layer needs to be shaped in order tocoordinate with the packaging component. On the packaging component,especially the end of the second panel on the pouch, the sides of thepouch, or the ends or sides of the wrapper may also be shaped with thesame shape with identical dimensions or which is proportional to thedimensions of the shape of the peel strip and/or distributionlayer/tissue layer. Other elements of the absorbent component or thepackaging component may be similar shapes, provided that thefunctionality of the absorbent article or packaging component is notcompromised. In addition, shaping the peel strip and or end of thesecond panel of the wrapper component may have additional benefits ofaiding the user in locating the peel strip or opening of the packagingcomponent.

In another aspect of the present invention, the wrapper component isdoes not have any visual characteristics that are coordinated thereon.However, the wrapper component appears to be coordinated and matched tothe absorbent article. In this aspect of the present invention, thewrapper component is clear or translucent, such that the visualcharacteristics on the absorbent article are visible through the wrappercomponent. In the case of color as the visual characteristic, and with atranslucent wrapper component, the hue of the visible color will be thesame but the saturation and luminosity will be different.

In some embodiments, the article and packaging components can also becoordinated by other sensory characteristics, for example touch andsmell. For example, the packaging component can have the same texture asthe article component, so as to provide a coordinated tactilecharacteristic. In some embodiments, the tactile characteristic isformed by an embossment, or different embossments. Similarly, separatepieces of the same type of material may be applied to the article andpackaging components.

By coordinating the packaging component and the personal care articles,many benefits may be obtained. First, the coordination allows forthinner and cheaper wrapper/packaging components to be used. When thepersonal care article and the wrapper/packaging have the same color orpattern, especially on the garment side outer cover and/or peel strip,and the same color or pattern is on the wrapper/packaging, it is moredifficult to discern what the contents of the wrapper are. Therefore,coordination of the wrapper/packaging with the personal care articlehelps disguise the personal care article in the thinnerwrapper/packaging component. Second, the coordination of thewrapper/packaging with the personal care article may provide anemotional benefit to the user and allow the products to fit into auser's life. Items which appear to be designed together makes the usermore confident in using the products since the coordination makes theoverall product of higher quality as compared to uncoordinated products.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the visualcharacteristics may be connected to other senses, such as smell andfeel. That is, the color or pattern may contain a floral color or afloral pattern. A scent can associated with the color or pattern may beapplied to the article or packaging. For example, a purple color or apattern of lavender flowers could be associated with a lavender scent.

Although the present invention has been described with reference tovarious embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. As such, it is intended that the foregoingdetailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limitingand that it is the appended claims, including all equivalents thereof,which are intended to define the scope of the invention.

1. A visually coordinated absorbent product comprising at least a firstelement and a second element, each element comprises at least a firstand second visual characteristic, wherein the first and second visualcharacteristics are different from each other and the first and secondvisual characteristic of the first element are matched to the first andsecond visual characteristics of the second element.
 2. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 1, wherein each of the at leastfirst and second elements further comprising at least a third visualcharacteristic, wherein the third visual characteristic of the firstelement is matched to the third visual characteristic of the secondelement.
 3. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 1,wherein each of the at least first and second elements furthercomprising at least three additional visual characteristic, wherein eachof the additional visual characteristics of the first element is matchedto each of the additional visual characteristic of the second element 4.The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 1, wherein theabsorbent product further comprises a third element, said third elementcomprises at least a first and second visual characteristic which aredifferent from each other, wherein the first and second visualcharacteristics of the third element are matched to the first and secondvisual characteristics of the first and second elements.
 5. A visuallycoordinated absorbent product comprising at least a first element, asecond element and a third element, wherein the first element comprisesat least a first and second visual characteristic, the second elementcomprises at least one visual characteristic which is matched to thefirst visual characteristic of the first element and the third elementcomprises at least one visual characteristic which is matched to thesecond visual characteristic of the first element.
 6. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 5, wherein second element andthird element each further comprise an additional visual characteristicwherein the additional visual characteristic of the second element ismatched to the additional characteristic of the third element.
 7. Thevisually coordinated absorbent product of claim 1, wherein the firstelement and second elements further comprises a third visualcharacteristic and the third visual characteristic of the first elementis matched to the third visual characteristic of the second element. 8.A visually coordinated absorbent product comprising: an absorbentarticle component comprising a garment side outer cover and an absorbentcore adjacent said garment side outer cover, wherein said articlecomponent has at least a first and second visual characteristic, whereinsaid first visual characteristic is different than said second visualcharacteristic; and a packaging component comprising at least a firstand second visual characteristics, wherein first and second visualcharacteristics of the absorbent article are coordinated to the firstand second visual characteristics of the packaging component and whereinsaid article component is disposed in said packaging component.
 9. Thevisually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein said articlecomponent further comprises a body side liner and a peel strip, saidabsorbent core is positioned between the body side liner and the garmentside outer cover and said peel strip is removably connected to saidgarment side outer cover, wherein at least a portion of said garmentside outer cover is configured with said first visual characteristic andat least a portion of said peel strip is configured with said secondvisual characteristic.
 10. The visually coordinated absorbent product ofclaim 9, wherein said article component further comprises a substratepositioned between said body side liner and said absorbent core, whereinsaid substrate comprises at least one of the first or second visualcharacteristics.
 11. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim8, wherein said first and second visual characteristics comprise a firstcolor characteristic and a second color characteristic.
 12. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 11, wherein said first colorcharacteristic comprises white color and wherein said second colorcharacteristic is a color selected from the group consisting of black,yellow, orange, purple, green, red, blue and pink.
 13. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 11, wherein said first colorcharacteristic of said article component has a first hue and whereinsaid first color characteristic of said packaging component has a secondhue, wherein said first hue is within about 120° of said second hue. 14.The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 13, wherein saidsecond color characteristic of said article component has a third hueand wherein said second color characteristic of said packaging componenthas a fourth hue, wherein said third hue is within about 120° of saidfourth hue.
 15. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 11,wherein said first color characteristic of said article component has afirst value and wherein said first color characteristic of saidpackaging component has a second value, wherein the difference betweensaid first and second values is within 5% of maximum.
 16. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 11, wherein said first colorcharacteristic of said article component has a first saturation andwherein said first color characteristic of said packaging component hasa second saturation, wherein the difference between said first andsecond saturations is within 5% of maximum.
 17. The visually coordinatedabsorbent product of claim 8, wherein at least one of said first andsecond visual characteristics comprises a pattern characteristic. 18.The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein the firstvisual characteristic comprises a color characteristic and the secondvisual characteristic comprises a pattern characteristic.
 19. Thevisually coordinated absorbent product of claim 18, wherein said patternis formed by printing, embossing, bonding, layering or aperturing andthe color characteristic comprises a hue selected from the groupconsisting of yellow, orange, purple, green, red, and blue.
 20. Thevisually coordinated absorbent product of claim 19, wherein said articlecomponent further comprises a body side liner and a peel strip, saidabsorbent core is positioned between the body side liner and the garmentside outer cover and said peel strip is removably connected to saidgarment side outer cover, wherein at least a portion of said peel stripis configured with both the first and second visual characteristic. 21.The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 20, wherein thepackaging component has an outer surface and the peel strip has an outersurface, wherein essentially the entire outer surface of the packagingcomponent and essentially the entire outer surface of the peel stripcomprise the first and second visual characteristic.
 22. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 21, wherein pattern is on apercentage of the outer surface of both the peel strip and the packagingcomponent and the percentage of the outer surface covered by the patternon the peel strip is approximately the same as the percentage of theouter surface covered by the pattern on the packaging component.
 23. Thevisually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein saidpackaging component comprises a non-woven material.
 24. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 21, wherein said packagingcomponent comprises a non-woven material.
 25. The visually coordinatedabsorbent product of claim 23, wherein said non-woven material has abasis weight of between about 10 gsm to about 40 gsm.
 26. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 24, wherein said non-wovenmaterial has a basis weight of between about 10 gsm to about 40 gsm. 27.The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 20, wherein saidarticle component further comprises a substrate positioned between saidbody side liner and said absorbent core, wherein said substratecomprises at least one of the first or second visual characteristics.28. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein thegarment side outer cover comprises the first and second visualcharacteristics.
 29. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim17, wherein the pattern is provided by an adhesive used to adhere theabsorbent core to the garment side outer cover.
 30. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein the at least one ofthe first or second visual characteristics visually is provided by anadhesive used to adhere the absorbent core to the garment side outercover.
 31. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8,wherein the article component comprises a third visual characteristicand the packaging component comprises the third visual characteristic.32. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 31, wherein thearticle component comprises a fourth visual characteristic and thepackaging component comprises the fourth visual characteristic.
 33. Thevisually coordinated absorbent product of claim 32, wherein the articlecomponent comprises a fifth visual characteristic and the packagingcomponent comprises the fifth visual characteristic.
 34. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 33, wherein the article componentcomprises a sixth visual characteristic and the packaging componentcomprises the sixth visual characteristic.
 35. The visually coordinatedabsorbent product of claim 8, wherein the article comprises at leastnine visual characteristics and the packaging component comprises atleast nine visual characteristic, wherein each of the nine visualcharacteristics of the absorbent article are coordinated to the at leastnine visual characteristics of the packaging component.
 36. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein said packagingcomponent is sized and configured to hold a plurality of said articlecomponents.
 37. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8,wherein one of the first or second visual characteristics comprises ashape.
 38. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 9,wherein the peel strip has a first end and a second end, and the secondvisual characteristic comprises a shape and at least one of the first orsecond ends of the peel strip has a contour which is comprise saidshape.
 39. The visually coordinated absorbent product of claim 8,wherein at least one of the visual characteristics is connected toanother sense selected from olfactory or feel.
 40. The visuallycoordinated absorbent product of claim 8, wherein at least one visualcharacteristic comprises, texture, transmittance/opacity, gloss or sheen41. A visually coordinated absorbent product comprising: an absorbentarticle component comprising a body side liner, a garment side outercover and an absorbent core disposed between said body side liner andsaid garment side outer cover; a first packaging component having atleast first and second visual characteristics, wherein said articlecomponent is disposed in said first packaging component; and a secondpackaging component having said at least said first and second visualcharacteristics, wherein said first packaging component is disposed insaid second packaging component.
 42. A visually coordinated absorbentproduct comprising an absorbent article component comprising a garmentside outer cover and an absorbent core adjacent said garment side outercover, wherein said article component has at least a first and secondvisual characteristic, wherein said first visual characteristic isdifferent than said second visual characteristic; and a packagingcomponent which is transparent or translucent and the a first and secondvisual characteristics are visible thru the packaging components suchthat the packaging component appears to have the a first and secondvisual characteristics on the surface thereof.
 43. A visuallycoordinated absorbent product comprising at least a first element and asecond element, each element comprises at least a first and secondvisual characteristic, wherein the first and second visualcharacteristics are different from each other and the first and secondvisual characteristic of the first element are coordinated to the firstand second visual characteristics of the second element.